Taking place in Walton New School of Music’s Digital Piano Lab and designed for absolute beginners, our Introducing Piano/Keyboard for Adults course encourages the development of each student’s abilities in an atmosphere of relaxed concentration. Students learn the fundamentals of keyboard technique – as well as basic music theory, sight-reading and chordal accompaniment – while progressing through a varied and interesting repertoire that ranges from classical to pop. Headphones allow students to hear themselves play without hearing the rest of the class and enable the teacher to work individually with each student. Alternatively, students can learn to sight read and play together without headphones in an ensemble setting.

Participating students will need to have an acoustic or digital piano to practice at home, and will also need to purchase The Classic Piano Course, Book I, by Carol Barratt before the course begins.

Have you enrolled in this course? Download our Introductory Handout for tips on how to get the most from it.

Liza Hingerty

Liza studied both piano and music theory at the DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama, obtaining her ALCM and GNEIM diplomas. She went on to teach at the Rathdown School for seven years, as well as continuing her musical studies with voice lessons, before coming to the New School. She has performed widely both as a jazz singer (with her own Trio and Quartet as well as numerous other musicians) and pianist (specialising in music of the 1930s and 40s, from George Gershwin to Cole Porter) at numerous Irish and Italian venues, including The Button Factory, The Bleu Note and Le Basement Jazz Club, among othes. She has been teaching piano and keyboard at the New School, to students at all skill levels, for over a decade.

Andrew Hogan

Andrew began his music training at the DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama and the Royal Irish Academy of Music, where he studied pianoforte performance and music theory and was awarded distinctions in both a London College of Music performance diploma and an ABRSM teaching diploma. He graduated from University College Dublin with an honours BA in Music and French and also studied pipe organ for two years (he is currently organist at Church of Our Lady Seat of Wisdom at University College Dublin). More recently, Andrew was awarded distinction in a City and Guilds Higher Diploma in Sound Engineering and Music Technology, and in addition to a busy teaching schedule he also works as a freelance music producer, producing music for short films as well as a self-produced EP. Andrew has worked with a wide range of students of varying ages and levels both at the New School, where he has taught since 2011, and other schools in Dublin. He has also prepared students for examinations in both Pianoforte and Music Theory with all major music examining bodies.

‘I would highly recommend this class – it far exceeded my expectations. And I’m so pleased that I decided to learn piano. It’s been such fun.’ – M. Bell

‘Personally I felt that, being older, I may have been left behind, but small classes give plenty of one-on-one time with the tutor.’ – P. Bissett

‘I thoroughly enjoyed the course. Never having done any musical training, I can hardly believe all I have learned.’ – R. Butler

‘I would highly recommend this course as a great first step to learning piano/keyboard.’ – G. Byrne

‘The classes are well paced with a very hands-on approach; you feel you’re being properly guided along.’ – A. Corcoran

‘A perfect course for beginners. I’ve already recommended it to a friend and she’s starting next term. I highly recommend Waltons for anybody who always wanted to learn to play an instrument but never had a chance. It’s never too late, and once you start you won’t regret it!’ – V. de Almeida

‘If you’re an adult it’s never too late to learn an instrument. Best adult class I’ve gone to. I will be doing another course here soon.’ – L. Dowdall

‘[V]ery well structured, with a patient and friendly teacher.’ – S. Flanagan

‘The very positive approach by the teacher was so encouraging!’ – D. Germaine

‘Nice environment with proper time given to all students in a group class.’ – K. Jason

Enrolment for this course requires a completed Enrolment Form and full payment of the course fee. Places in each class are limited to eight, and are available on a first-come, first-served basis, based on the date of enrolment. A number of our group courses fill in advance of their start dates, and early enrolment is recommended.

Two weeks before the end of each Introducing course, participating students will be given options for continuing their tuition at the school if they’d like to do so. Although a continuation ‘Improvers’ course cannot generally be scheduled on the same day/time as the Introducing course, one can be arranged if enough students would like to continue and the teacher has timetable availability. Students can also continue their tuition with private (one-to-one) lessons or ‘partner’ lessons with another class member (see Tuition Options – Private • Partner • Small Group Lessons). We are happy to discuss these options with you.